Plush toy

ABSTRACT

A toy with a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior. The outer shell is substantially covered in a soft material and shaped substantially like an animal. The toy includes more eyes on the upper portion of the outer shell, and an orifice on the lower portion of the outer shell. The orifice can be opened and closed. The toy includes an inner bladder within the deformable outer shell. The inner bladder includes a fluid and is sealed to prevent fluid from leaking from the inner bladder. The inner bladder fills the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell. In response to squeezing of the outer shell, the fluid may force a portion of the inner bladder to expand out of the outer shell though the orifice. The orifice may be invisible to the user while closed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/959,880, filed Jan. 10, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to toys and, more specifically, to a plush toy. Traditionally, plush toys may be relatively static in their presentation and behavior. Toys are needed that may provide users with additional functions and provide for comic relief and surprise.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the disclosure describes a toy that may comprise a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior. The outer shell may be substantially covered in a soft material and shaped substantially like an animal. The toy may include one or more eyes disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell, and an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell. The orifice may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. The toy may include a resilient inner bladder disposed within the deformable outer shell. The inner bladder may include a fluid and may be sealed so as to substantially prevent the fluid from leaking out of the inner bladder. The inner bladder may substantially fill the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell. In response to a squeezing from a user of the outer shell, the fluid within the inner bladder may force a portion of the inner bladder to expand out of the outer shell though the orifice while moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position. The orifice may be substantially invisible to the user while in the closed position. In another embodiment, the disclosure describes a toy having a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior. The toy may include one or more facial features disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell so as to replicate a face, and an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell, the orifice being selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. The toy may include a resilient inner bladder disposed within hollow interior of the deformable outer shell, the inner bladder being substantially sealed. In response to a compression force applied to the outer shell, the inner bladder may expand to force a portion of the inner bladder to penetrate through the orifice of the outer shell by moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position.

In another embodiment, the disclosure describes a toy including a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior. The outer shell may be substantially covered in a soft material and shaped substantially like an animal. The toy may include one or more eyes disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell. The eyes may include a solid-colored pupil region and a multi-colored iris region surrounding the pupil region. The toy may include an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell. The orifice may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position and substantially invisible to a user while in the closed position. The toy may include a resilient inner bladder disposed within the deformable outer shell. The inner bladder may be filled with air and being sealed so as to substantially prevent the air from leaking out of the inner bladder. The inner bladder may substantially fill the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell. In response to a compressing force applied to the outer shell, the air within the inner bladder may force a portion of the inner bladder to expand out of the outer shell though the orifice while moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described in reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts through all the various figures unless otherwise specified.

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, a reference will be made to the following detailed description, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a plush toy in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the plush toy of FIG. 1 with an inner bladder exposed through an orifice;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of eyes of the plush toy of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a front view of another embodiment of a plush toy in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a front view of the plush toy of FIG. 4A with an inner bladder exposed through an orifice;

FIG. 5A is a front view of another embodiment of a plush toy in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a front view of the plush toy of FIG. 5A with an inner bladder exposed through an orifice;

FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a plush toy with a keychain attachment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional schematic view of the plush toy of FIG. 1 with an orifice in a closed position; and

FIG. 7B is a cross sectional schematic view of the plush toy of FIG. 1 with an orifice in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A plush toy is disclosed. In some embodiments, the plush toy may include an exterior surface or outer shell that may be made from a fabric, such as a soft or furry material. In some embodiments, the fabric may have a variety of colors and levels of furriness or softness. In some embodiments, the outer shell of the plush toy may include strips of different types of fabric that may be connected to make up the outer surface. The outer surface may include one or more openings and may include unique eyes that increase attractiveness and depth. For example, in some embodiments, the eyes may include a solid-colored pupil and a multi-colored iris region. In some embodiments, the iris region outside the pupil may have a pinwheel-type pattern surrounding the solid pupil, where the pinwheel-type pattern may include multiple colors, sparkles, or other texture variations. The plush toy may also have other facial features such as a nose, a mouth, ears, etc. In some embodiments, the toy may also have features shaped as other appendages, such as arms, legs, wings, etc., so as to form an animal or other creature.

In some embodiments, the plush toy may include an inner bladder which may be created from a resilient material. The inner bladder may be sealed and relatively full of a fluid, such as a gas (e.g. air) or a viscous slime material. In some embodiments, the fluid within the inner bladder may be substantially incompressible. In some embodiments, the bladder may be repeatedly expandable or stretchable when compressed, where the fluid within the bladder may be forced to expand portions of the inner bladder outward when squeezed, such as when a user squeezes the toy. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the inner bladder may be positioned to be in relatively close proximity to an inner lining of the outer surface and at least a portion of the inner bladder may be disposed in proximity to the opening in the outer surface. When the outer surface is compressed inward, such as when it may be squeezed by a user, portions of the inner bladder may expand and push out through the orifice in the outer surface and may become visible to the user outside of the outer surface. In some embodiments, when the outer surface is released of pressure, such as when as user releases the toy, the entire inner bladder may recede into the orifice in the outer surface and be out of sight inside the outer surface.

In some embodiments, the inner bladder may have a surface or filling that may be visually interesting, such as including glitter, sparkles, colors, textures, etc. In one embodiment, the plush toy may be shaped as a pile of poop similar to a poo emoji. In addition, in some embodiments, the inner bladder may expand through the orifice in a bottom portion of the plush toy as if it were poop escaping through an opening in the bottom of the plush toy.

In some embodiments, the plush toy may include an exterior surface that forms an inner opening adapted to securely hold an inner bladder where the exterior surface may be pleasing to hold. The exterior surface may include an opening for an inner bladder to expand through, and may have a recognizable shape. The toy may include an interior sealed bladder comprising a resilient and stretchable material that is adapted to be filled with a gas, fluid, viscous slime material, etc., and sized to fit snuggly in the inner opening but not be initially visible as expanding out through the opening. The interior sealed bladder may be compressible and adapted to expand partially outward through the opening to be visible when sufficient pressure is applied to it. The interior sealable bladder may be adapted to retract through the opening when sufficient pressure is removed, and the interior sealable bladder not be visible when no pressure or insufficient pressure is applied. In some embodiments, the exterior surface may include a flexible membrane covering the opening in the exterior surface. In some embodiments, the flexible membrane may stretch outward in response to pressure from the interior bladder. In some embodiments, the flexible membrane may include interesting textures, colors, images, materials, etc.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of a plush toy 100 as described herein. The plush toy 100 may include an outer shell 101 with an upper portion 103, a lower portion 105, and a hollow interior 107 (see FIGS. 7a and 7b ). The outer shell 101 may include one or more eyes 102 that may be disposed on the upper portion 103. The outer shell 101 may include wings 104 that may protrude from either side of the shell, and a mouth, teeth, or other facial features 106. An orifice 108 may be formed in the lower portion of the outer shell 101. In some embodiments, the orifice 108 may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. In some embodiments, the outer shell may include a flexible membrane disposed to cover the orifice 108 and flex outward in response to pressure from within the hollow interior; for example, in response to a user squeezing or otherwise compressing the outer shell 101 inward.

In some embodiments, a resilient inner bladder 110 may be disposed within the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell 101. The inner bladder 110 may be made from a deformable material that may stretch in response to a force or pressure and return to an non-deformed shape when the force is released, or return to a shape that may substantially follow any contours of the outer shell's interior. In some embodiments, the inner bladder 110 may include a fluid, such as air, and be sealed so as to prevent the fluid from leaking out of the inner bladder. In some embodiments, other fluids may be used, such as water, a viscous slime material, gels, etc. In some embodiments, the inner bladder 110 may be colored and/or textured to provide an interesting visual or textured feature. For example, the inner bladder 110 may be sparkled, glittery, or be colored with any suitable color. In some embodiments, the color of the inner bladder 110 may match a color included in the one or more eyes 102. In some embodiments, the inner bladder 110 may substantially fill the hollow interior 107 of the deformable outer shell 101. In some embodiments, the inner bladder 110 may be substantially transparent or translucent to allow the fluid within the inner bladder to be visible. In some embodiments, the fluid within the inner bladder 110 may be colored or include glitter, sparkles, or other visually interesting features.

Referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, in response to a squeezing or other application of compression or force to the outer shell 101, the fluid within the inner bladder 110 may force a portion of the inner bladder 110 to expand out of the outer shell 101 through the orifice 108 while moving the orifice from a closed position to an open position. The portion of the inner bladder 110 that expands through the orifice 108 may be visible to a user and may resemble the toy pooping or excreting another material or substance. When the user stops squeezing the toy 100 or the compression pressure is otherwise released, resilient properties of the inner bladder 110 may cause the expanded portion of the inner bladder to retract back through the orifice 108 and into the hollow interior 107 of the outer surface 101 so as to no longer be visible to a user from the exterior. In some embodiments, the orifice 108 may be substantially invisible to a user while in the closed position such that the exposure of the inner bladder 110 upon squeezing the toy may come as a surprise.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up image of the one or more eyes 102 on the outer surface 101. In some embodiments, the eyes 102 may be relatively large in relation to the other parts of the toy 100, and may include designs that make the eyes interesting to look at. In some embodiments, the eyes 102 may include spiral patterns or other shapes to make them interesting to look at. In some embodiments, the color, texture, or other features of the eyes may substantially match color or texture features of the inner bladder 110 that may become visible to a user upon compression of the toy 100.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show another embodiment of a plush toy 200 having similar features as the plush toy 100. In some embodiments, the plush toy 200 may include an outer shell 201 with an upper portion 203, a lower portion 205, and a hollow interior. The outer shell 201 may include one or more eyes 202 that may be disposed on the upper portion 203. The outer shell 201 may include ears 204 that may protrude from the upper portion 201 of the outer shell, and a mouth, teeth, or other facial features 206 on the upper portion. An orifice 208 may be formed in the lower portion 205 of the outer shell 201. In some embodiments, the orifice 208 may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. In some embodiments, the outer shell 201 may include a flexible membrane disposed to cover the orifice 208 and flex outward in response to pressure from within the hollow interior; for example, in response to a user squeezing or otherwise compressing the outer shell 201 inward. In some embodiments, a resilient inner bladder 210 may be disposed within the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell 201. FIG. 4A shows the plush toy with the inner bladder 210 retracted within an outer shell 201 having the features of an animal with ears, eyes, nose on an upper portion of the outer shell and feet 211 and an orifice 208 on the lower portion 205. FIG. 4B shows the plush toy 200 being squeezed, forcing at least a portion of the inner bladder 210 out of the outer shell 201 through an orifice 208 on the lower portion 205 of the outer shell. In some embodiments, the orifice 208 may be disposed substantially between two legs 211 of the toy 200 on the lower portion 205.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show another embodiment of a plush toy 300 having similar features as the plush toy 100. In some embodiments, the plush toy 300 may include an outer shell 301 with an upper portion 303, a lower portion 305, and a hollow interior. The outer shell 301 may include one or more eyes 302 that may be disposed on the upper portion 303. The outer shell 301 may include other facial features such as a mouth, teeth, scars, or other facial features 306 on the upper portion. An orifice 308 may be formed in the lower portion 305 of the outer shell 301. In some embodiments, the orifice 308 may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. In some embodiments, the outer shell 301 may include a flexible membrane disposed to cover the orifice 308 and flex outward in response to pressure from within the hollow interior; for example, in response to a user squeezing or otherwise compressing the outer shell 301 inward. In some embodiments, a resilient inner bladder 310 may be disposed within the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell 301. FIG. 5A shows the plush toy 300 with the inner bladder 310 retracted within the outer shell 301 having the features of a creature with eyes 302 and a mouth 306 on the outer shell and the orifice 308 on the lower portion 305. FIG. 5B shows the plush toy 300 being squeezed and forcing at least a portion of the inner bladder 310 out of the outer surface through the orifice 308 on the lower portion 305 of the outer shell 301.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a plush toy 400 having similar features as the plush toy 100. In some embodiments, the plush toy 400 may include an outer shell 401 with an upper portion 403, a lower portion 405, and a hollow interior. The outer shell 401 may include one or more eyes 402 that may be disposed on the upper portion 403. The outer shell 401 may include other facial features such as a mouth, teeth, gills, nose or other features 406 on the upper portion. An orifice 408 may be formed in the lower portion 405 of the outer shell 401. In some embodiments, the orifice 408 may be selectively operable between a closed position and an open position. In some embodiments, the outer shell 401 may include a flexible membrane disposed to cover the orifice 408 and flex outward in response to pressure from within the hollow interior; for example, in response to a user squeezing or otherwise compressing the outer shell 401 inward. In some embodiments, a resilient inner bladder (not shown) may be disposed within the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell 401. The embodiment of the plush toy in FIG. 6 may also include a keychain attachment 412 coupled to the upper portion 403 of the outer shell 401 and a keychain 414 coupled to the keychain attachment. In some embodiments, the keychain attachment 412 may be coupled to other portions of the outer shell 401 instead. The plush toy 400 in FIG. 6 may also include an inner bladder housed within the outer shell 401 a portion of which may extend out of the orifice 408 in the outer shell 401 (e.g., in a lower portion of the outer shell) when pressure or squeezing is applied to the outer shell 401 and inner portion.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a schematic view of cross sections of an embodiment of a plush toy such as the plush toy 100. FIG. 7A depicts an embodiment of the plush toy 100 with the orifice 108 in the closed position and FIG. 7B depicts an embodiment of the plush toy 100 with the orifice 108 in the open position allowing a portion of the inner bladder 110 to herniate through the opening and be visible outside the outer shell 101. It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the orifice 108 may not be visible when in the closed position. As shown, the inner bladder 110 may be disposed within a hollow interior 107 of the outer shell 101. As shown in FIG. 7B, when pressure 116 may be applied to the outer shell 101, an expanded portion 118 of the inner bladder 110 may be squeezed through the orifice 108 in the outer shell 101 so as to become visible outside of the outer shell. In some embodiments, when the pressure 116 is removed from the outer shell, the expanded portion 118 of the inner bladder 110 may retract back into the hollow interior 107 of the outer shell 101, for example, due to the resilient nature of the material of which the inner bladder is formed.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto. While the specification is described in relation to certain implementation or embodiments, many details are set forth for the purpose of illustration. Thus, the foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. For example, the invention may have other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristic. The described arrangements are illustrative and not restrictive. To those skilled in the art, the invention is susceptible to additional implementations or embodiments and certain of these details described in this application may be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and, thus, within its scope and spirit. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy comprising: a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior, the outer shell being substantially covered in a soft material and shaped substantially like an animal; one or more eyes disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell; an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell, the orifice being selectively operable between a closed position and an open position; and a resilient inner bladder disposed within the deformable outer shell, the inner bladder being substantially filled with a fluid and being sealed so as to substantially prevent the fluid from leaking out of the inner bladder, wherein the inner bladder substantially fills the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell, wherein, in response to a squeezing from a user of the outer shell, the fluid within the inner bladder forces a portion of the inner bladder to expand out of the outer shell though the orifice while moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position, wherein the orifice is substantially invisible to the user while in the closed position.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the one or more eyes include a solid-colored pupil region and a multi-colored iris region surrounding the pupil region.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the fluid within the inner bladder is a liquid.
 4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the fluid within the inner bladder is a gas.
 5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the fluid within the inner bladder is substantially incompressible.
 6. The toy of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the outer shell includes two leg features protruding from the outer shell.
 7. The toy of claim 6, wherein the orifice is disposed in lower portion of the outer shell substantially between the two leg features.
 8. The toy of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the outer shell further comprises a flexible membrane covering the orifice that may flex outward in response to pressure from within the hollow interior of the outer shell.
 9. A toy comprising: a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior; one or more facial features disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell so as to replicate a face; an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell, the orifice being selectively operable between a closed position and an open position; and a resilient inner bladder disposed within hollow interior of the deformable outer shell, the inner bladder being substantially sealed, wherein, in response to a compression force applied to the outer shell, the inner bladder expands to force a portion of the inner bladder to penetrate through the orifice of the outer shell by moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position.
 10. The toy of claim 9, wherein the one or more facial features include at least one eye.
 11. The toy of claim 10, wherein the at least one eye each include a solid-colored pupil region and a multi-colored iris region surrounding the pupil region.
 12. The toy of claim 9, wherein the inner bladder is substantially filled with a fluid.
 13. The toy of claim 12, wherein the fluid is a gas.
 14. The toy of claim 12, wherein the fluid is air.
 15. The toy of claim 12, wherein the inner bladder is substantially transparent.
 16. The toy of claim 15, wherein the fluid is visible through the inner bladder and the fluid includes glitter.
 17. A toy comprising: a deformable outer shell including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a hollow interior, the outer shell being substantially covered in a soft material and shaped substantially like an animal; one or more eyes disposed on the upper portion of the outer shell, wherein the eyes include a solid-colored pupil region and a multi-colored iris region surrounding the pupil region; an orifice disposed on the lower portion of the outer shell, the orifice being selectively operable between a closed position and an open position and substantially invisible to a user while in the closed position; and a resilient inner bladder disposed within the deformable outer shell, the inner bladder being filled with air and being sealed so as to substantially prevent the air from leaking out of the inner bladder, wherein the inner bladder substantially fills the hollow interior of the deformable outer shell, wherein, in response to a compressing force applied to the outer shell, the air within the inner bladder forces a portion of the inner bladder to expand out of the outer shell though the orifice while moving the orifice from the closed position to the open position.
 18. The toy of claim 17, wherein the inner bladder includes a color that substantially matches a color of the one or more eyes.
 19. The toy of claim 17, wherein the lower portion of the outer shell includes two leg features protruding from the outer shell.
 20. The toy of claim 19, wherein the orifice is disposed in lower portion of the outer shell substantially between the two leg features. 